Photography



June 30, 1931. J. J. REILLY ETAL 1,312,443

PHOTOGRAPHY Filed 00). 19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 1 Fig. 2

4 Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Fig.5 I Fig.6

' avwzhtozs MaW June 30, 1931.

J J. REILLY ETAL PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 19, 1927 Fig. 7

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1931. J. J. REILLY ETAL 1,312,443

PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Oct. 19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 awwewto' s L m 05W mm,

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J. REILLY, OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, AND WILLIAM A. GILMARTIN, OF NEW YORK, N. ,Y.

PHOTOGRAPHY Appl cation filed October 19, 1927.

This invention relates to photography, more especially to tonerendering.

A principal objector this invention is to provide a. means and a method by which an improved tone rendering may be secured in negatives and in prints.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the method and a particular physical embodiment of means for practising the method and the product resulting therefrom progresses and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the method and particular physical embodiment of means selected for illustration and the product resulting from the practice of the method, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings and the several views thereon, in which similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a developed negative; Fig. 2, is a schematic diagram of a developed print made in the ordi I nary manner from the negative Fig. 1 Fig.

3, is a schematic diagram of a developed print made from the negative Fig. 1, illustrating the effect of a partial application of the new method; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar to Fig. 3, but illustrate a progressive improvement in a print made from negative, Fig. 1, used in accordance with the new method; Fig. 7 is aschematic diagrammatic view of a common and well known continuous printing machine illustrating an application of the new means thereto for practicing the new method; Fig. 8. is a diagrammatic perspective View of what will be designated a tone wedge as used in the practice of the new method; Fig. 9, is a schematic diagrammatic view of a common and well known intermittent printing machine illustrating an application of the new means thereto for practicing the new method; F 10, is a diagrammatic view of what will be designated a tone wedge as used in the practice of the new method; Fig. 11, illustrates schematically a focal plane shutter camera. having the invention of applicants applied thereto; Fig. 12, illustrates schemati- Serial No. 227,145.

cally a means for regulating a light value which may be applied to the deviceas shown by Fig. 9.

It iswell understood by those skilled inthe art of photography that either a proper or a desiredgraduation of tones and a maximum opacity of the darkest or next to the darkest tone either in the negative or in a print there from is governedby'factors difiicult if not impossible to control as photography is practised. The result is that negatives are produced from which prints are made which prints do not have the desired contrast between the high-lights and the shadows or the desired contrast between each of the intermediate tones or between the darkest of the intermediate tones and the darkest tone or between the lightest of the intermediate tones and the lightest tone.

The present invention aims to provide a method and means which may be employed in making the negative and in making prints therefrom or both.

InFig. 1, there is shown, in a diagrammatic way, a developed negative, the different tones being illustrated by crossed lines. The area of the rectangles included between the crossed lines represent somewhat the depth of tone. The smallest areas represent ing the most dense tone or opacity, the largest representing the lightest tone or transparency.

In Fig. 1, numeral 1 designates the densest tone in the negative and 5 the lightest tone, and 2, 3, 4 the intermediate tones decreasing in opacity in the order of the numerals.

Fig. 2, represents in a schematic fashion. a print made by ordinary methods from the negative Fig. 1. The tones or opacities are naturally in the inverse order to those shown in Fig. 1, that is the space 6 in Fig. 2, corresponding to the space 5 in Fig. 1, is the darkest and the space 10 in Fig. 2 corresponding to space 1 of Fig. 1 is the lightest.

If upon producing the print Fig. 2 or from an inspection of the negative Fig. 1, the contrast and gradation of tones in the print Fig. 2, are or would be the best obtainable by present methods, an improvementin the quality of the positive print as regards the contrast and gradation of tones can be had by procedure in accordance with this invention.

To produce a print having a desired con trast and gradation of contrast from the negative Fig. 1, in accordance with this invention the negative and raw print stock in proper contact would in the usual way be subjected to a printing light. The value of the printing light, that is, the time intensity value would not necessarily be thevalue which would be used in making the print Fig. 2, but would be probably less. The value should be such that in practice in accordance with well known rules of printing the tone next lighter than the darkest would properly print. That is,-the deposit 2 of Fig.1 would produce in the print a proper opacity, that is, would give the effect as shown by space 140i Fig. 3, if the print were immediately developed. The light value used would not preferably produce any change in the light sensitive salt of the print stock in the space underlying the space 1 of the negative Fig. 1, that is, the space 15 of Fig. 3 would have no developable silver therein. There would, however, be a change produced in the spaces 11, .12 and 13 of Fig. 3, corresponding to the spaces'5, 4 and 3 of Fig. 1. The light value used to print through the'deposit in space 2 of Fig. l would evidently sprint through the deposit in spaces 3, 4 and 5 because the tone of each of these spaces is lighter than space 2. However, the light value used would probably not be sufficient properly to print these other spaces. I

In order to print through space 3 another and lesser light value would be selected and the negative and print stock in proper contact would be exposedto such light value.

This light value would be selected so that it would not cause printing through spaces 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. but would. print through space 3. This effect is shown by Fig. 4, in which spaces 15 and 14' retain the same opacity or. tone as in Fig. 3, but space 13 has acquired a darker tone and of course spaces 12 and 11 in Fig. 4 are darker than in Fig. 3, if itis considered, that the print Fig. 3 was subjected to the second light value before being developed or Fig. 4 may be considered a printmade by what is in effect two successive exposures by means of two differ ent light values, the first being the greater.

In the same way the method may be pro ceeded with and a printcorresponding to Fig.

,5 may he obtained bv the use ofthree succes sive light values eachless than the preceding and the last one such that it will give a visible or proper deposit-through space 4 ofFig. 1, but none through spaces 1. 2 and 3 of 1.

A print, Fig. 6, may. be obtained by the use of four successive light-values each one less than the preceding and the last one suffiClBIll) to prlnt through spacef5 of Fig. 1, but

not through 4, 3, 2 or-l, f

or better or proper contrast and gradation of tone in comparison to Fig. 2 which does not have a desired contrast and gradation of tone although both have been made fromthe same negative. The difierenie consists in that in Fig. 6 a greater contrast exists between 13 and 14 and between 12 and 13 and between 11 and 12 than exists between the corresponding spaces of Fig. 2.

By the process outlined each separate tone desired has been printed with a light value not sufficient to print through darker tones of the negative and each time this is done the spaces of the print corresponding to the lighter tones of the negatives have been affected so that an accumulative action has been produced with the result that upon development the extreme contrasts have been increased and the contrasts between intermediate tones have been increased. The result is a positive print avoiding flatness and conveying an impression of stereoscopic reliet or depth. 7 V

In'the illustration a few tones only have been considered and consequently only a few printing light values, but it is evident that the process is capable'of being used and is applicable where a much larger number of different tones are selected in a negative and corresponding light values impressed suc cessively. .On the other hand the principle of the method is present when two light values only are selected and used.

The method outlined may be practised in manydiiterent ways, some of which,in the case of still or. single image areanegatives such as those usually made by cameras other than motion picture cameras, will readily occur to those skilled in the art as thetime' and intensity of light to which negatives being printed are subjected is ofteneasily regulable. and the cessation of the light action can be made predeterminately gradual instead of abrupt asat present as Ifor.in'- stance by decreasing the light value byimeans of a .rheostat. To practice-the method in photographing still negatives by cameras other than motion picture cameras .is also quite simple (in that it is merely required to introduce a device which will gradually and progressively reduce the light value while the sensitized negative plate or film is under exposure), such for instance as -Fig. 8, or Fig. 10 moved progressively.

In practising the method in the case of positive prints made from motion picture negative when what is known as a continuous printer is used it is preferred to use an arrangement of'means diagrammatically illustrated by Fig. 7. V

In Fig. 7, there has been diagrammatical- 1y shown a negative film 16 and positive film stock 17 upon which it is desired to print. Both films are held as usual or customary and Issue from the feeding mechanism 18,. Both films are properly taken up by'the take up mechanism 19. The mechanism fortake up and feeding are merely represented as a box because the details of the mechanism are of no interest as the common and ordinary mech anisms for such purpose may be used.

An aperture20 is provided through which light from lamp 21 may pass and act as, a printing light. The effective size of this aperture may be decreased by the opaque shutter 22. The shutter 22 is shown as mounted on an arm 23, pivoted at 2 l-and manipulated by an extension25. A member 26 frictionally engages arc 27in a well known manner to retain the arm 23 in adjusted position.

Between the aperture 20, the shutter 22 and lamp 21 there is positioned a tone wedge 28.

In using the device Fig. 7, the negative and print stock are inserted and advanced continuously together in contact as is usual and the aperture 20 is decreased in effective size by the use of shutter 22 so as to give, as determined by trial, or empirical knowledge gained by experience, the particular densities or tone values in the print which are desired. It is of course obvious that with a very dense negative the effective aperture 20 will be made greater than with thin negatives.

The tone wedge 28 may be of any suitable or usual form. The particular form shown is that of a glass plate, Fig. 8, the surface of which is covered with a suitable opaque material which gradually increases in opacity from the end 29 to the end 30.

In case it is desired to equip an intermittent printer, the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 would be suitable.

In Fig. 9, 16 designates a negative film and 17 a positive film stock. 31 is the feeding mechanism and 32 the take up. 21 designates the source of light, shown as a lamp. The aperture is designated 33.

In the device as shown by Fig. 9, the usual shutter composed of two entirely opaque semicircular disks 34 and 35 is used. These disks are, as usual, adjustably mounted on shaft 36, so that they may be adjusted, rela tively, so that both may coincide as shown in Fig. 10, or they may overlap only to a slight extent so decreasing the light value to any desired extent.

Also mounted on shaft 36 is the tone Wedge 37 positioned between the aperture 33 and the source of light 21.

In using the device Fig. 9, the negative and print stock are inserted and advanced intermittently as is usual and the shutter is synchronously operated as usual carrying with it the tone wedge 37. The adjustment of the shutter is made as usual by making a trial print or. by. empirical knowledge gained by experience.

The tone wedge 37 Fig. 10, may be of any preferred form but a glass Wedge is shown constructed in a manner similar to the wedge Fig. 8, but increasing in opacity circularly from 38 to 39.

The tone wedge 37 Fig. 10, arranged in relation to the shutter 34 and 35 as previously described for intermittent machine printing,

can be used in photographing or exposing a sensitized negative film in a motion picture camera, by placing them between the scene to be photographed and the sensitized film so that the light values forced to pass through the tonewedge 37, Fig. 10, before reaching the sensitized film,,are gradually and proressively reduced while the sensitized film is at rest in the camerav and the exposure taklng place or occurring, resulting in a negative record showing increased contrast between the various .tones in the subject so recorded.

As illustrating one method by which the applicants ma embody the principle of means devised y them, reference may be had to Fig, 11, in which is shown diagrammatically a camera .410, having a lens 41 and containing a plate 42 which upon the side facing the lens, as is usual, is coated with an emulsion containing a light sensitive material. Between the lens and the sensitive surface, is the well known curtain or focal plane shutter .43, which shutter has interposed therein a tone wedge 44 corresponding to the tone wedge Fig. 8-and the tone wedge Fig. 10. In the operation of the camera, as is well understo d, the curtain at the moment f exposure, travels past the plate, and so brings the tone wedgein position thussubjecting the light sensitive mat rial to different light .source21. In order to do this, applicant would not carry the wires 46 and 47 from the sourceof current directly to the lamp 21, but would only carry one direct to 21. The other would'be carried to a rheostat coil 48 upon which would bear a conducting finger 49 revolved by shaft 50, which rotates the adjustable shutter composed of 3 1 and 35. An electrical connection would be made to the finger 49 by means of disk 51 and finger 52 which connects by means of wire 53 to the other terminal of the lamp 21.

When the printer is: started, the. shaft 50 said negative. I c 2. In a photographic prlnting machine, in

will revolve, and the finger 49 would be so arranged, that when the shutter34 and 35 had completely uncovered the negative from which a print is being made, the greatest intensity of light'would be emitted from lamp 21, but as the shutter 34 and 35 continued to revolve, the light would decrease, before the shutter 34 and 35 began to cover the negative being printed, because'the' finger 49; would travel farther along the coil 48 and so introduce resistance into the lamp circuit. As the machine continued to operate however, the finger 49 would move around the complete circle, so that when the shutter again exposes thenegative, the finger 49 would be in'a position where the least resistance would be included in the lamp circuit.

The diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 12, is merely illustrativeof the fact, that the effect desired by applicants may be obtained by changing the intensity of the light source as well as by interposing a device such as a tone wedge between the light source'and the negative, and it is to be understood, that the method of changing the light intensity is merely illustrative .but does not of course exclude other well known means or means other than automatic, such as manual.

Applicants have a method of producing a print which consists in printing the same image-in exact registry on each fiat side of well known so-called double coated motion picture film stock. By so doing the print upon projection by transmitted light simulates a stereoscopic view and this effect is much enhanced by printing by the methods herein disclosed.

Although applicants have herein explained their new method and illustrated a meansfor practising it and described the construction and operation thereof and disclosed the principles of the method and the construction, nevertheless, it is to be understood that the means selectedare merely illustrative but do not exhaust the possible physical embodiment of means underlying the invention.

7 What isclaimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

is: V

1. The method of printing which consists in arranging a negative in contact with sensitized print stock for printing and exposing the whole negative to a plurality of light values selected in accordance with their power to print through selected tones in the combination: means 'for advancing a transparent negative andpositive stock in contact;

a source of light; means interposed between the source of light and-the negative 'for adjusting the time the light may impinge on the negative and means also interposed for modifying the light value a plurality of times while each-completed image is being exposed in accordance with tone values in the negative. p

3. In a photographic printing machlne, n

combination: means for advancing a negative source of light and the negative for impressing a plurality of light values upon a single picture area while it is being exposed.

JOHN J. REILLY.

7 WILLIAM A. GILMARTIN. 

